(Yicai) Nov. 22 -- The Walt Disney Company will bring more movies to the Chinese market next year, while the US media and entertainment giant also plans to improve marketing and integration strategies on local online social media platforms.

China is one of the fastest-growing markets in the Asia-Pacific region, especially regarding online channels, Carol Choi, executive vice president of APAC content strategy of Disney, told Yicai at a content exhibition event on Nov. 20. The firm will improve its partnerships with local social media, including TikTok's sister app Douyin, Xiaohongshu, Bilibili, and other leading video sites, she added.

Disney showed some of its upcoming movies during the event, including Mufasa: The Lion King, Snow White, Moana 2, and Tron: Ares. Walt Disney Animation Studio's Zootopia 2, Pixar Animation Studios' flick Hoopers and series Dream Productions, Lucasfilm's The Mandalorian and Grogu, Marvel Television's Daredevil: Born Again, and Marvel Studios' The Fantastic Four: First Steps were also highlighted.

Moana 2 is scheduled to release in China on Nov. 29, while Mufasa: The Lion King will hit theaters on Dec. 20.

Disney has fine-tuned strategies for different Chinese online channels, Yicai learned. For example, it used Xiaohongshu when promoting Moana to focus on the family market while prioritizing other video sites for live-action productions, streaming National Geographic's Queens on iQiyi, Youku, Tencent Videos, and Bilbili.

Disney must focus on more models to establish an emotional connection with the Chinese audience as localization is crucial, Choi pointed out. For example, Japanese viewers love dubbing, with local voice actors having special requirements and even fans, but people in China prefer watching foreign movies without dubbing, she added.

Editors: Shi Yi, Martin Kadiev